Hearne: JJ’s Benefit Goes Down Tonight @ The Uptown

The powers that be at the Uptown Theater have graciously agreed to donate the venue and services to host a fundraiser tonight for victims of the fiery gas explosion that decimated the 20-plus year-old Plaza area eatery JJ’s.

The eatery opened in the mid ’80s as J.J. Malane’s, named – at least in part – for founder J.J. Quinn who sold out in 1985.

A bold, former rogue, Frantze’s once suited up his serving staff in “Fuck American Century” tee-shirts after being forced from his restaurant rental space in the mutual fund’s building on Main Street just north of the Plaza.Alas, JJ’s today is little more than a charred edifice and three decades of fond .memories.

Tickets for the 7 p.m. benefit and silent auction at the Upttown tonight range from $10 to $500 and are tax deductible.

“There’s 10 bands playing,” says Uptown owner Larry Sells. “They’ll be playing in the theater and in our VIP area, The Valentine room.”